Facilitating the protection and restoration of species and ecosystems at risk on BC’s South Coast
Arbutus
The Arbutus (also known as "Pacific madrone") is a distinct evergreen deciduous species on Canada’s west coast distributed from Mexico to the Central Coast and associated islands in BC. Typically the ecological community that forms around this species is found less than 10 kilometres from coastlines.
Arbutus communities typically occur on dry open marine variant or sloping sites with shallow well-drained exposed rock and rocky soils. Some communities can have deep soil profiles but drainage is key. Other species associated with arbutus communities include Garry oak, Douglas-fir, lodgepole pine, oceanspray, hairy manzanita (a type of low growing evergreen berry producing plant), salal and dull Oregon-grape. Arbutus communities like Coastal Douglas-fir have been impacted by a number of factors, including stress from environmental conditions (drought, soil disturbance and pollution), fragmentation and clearing as well as pathogens. The possibly introduced canker fungus, Nattrassia mangiferae, is thought to be the major pathogenic agent, with other opportunistic pathogens such as Fusicoccum aesculi and Armillaria attacking stressed trees. As well the elimination of fire as a disturbance regime has potnetially allowed these pathogens to proliferate as well as invasive plant species and other more dominant tree species to advance. On the South Coast Arbutus communities can be found on coastal bluffs and upland marinemeadows of Metro Vancouver's north shore, Howe Sound and northwest along the Sunshine Coast and Powel River. Three red-listed communities contain this species: Arbutus / hairy manzanita, Douglas-fir - arbutus and Garry oak - arbutus.
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Our lab investigates the population genetic structure of temperate and boreal trees, and the evolutionary dynamics that have resulted in that structure. We investigate the extent of local adaptation to climate in tree populations, and the capacity of those populations to adapt to new climates using common gardens and controlled environment experiments.
A source for authoritative conservation information on thousands of plants and animals and hundreds of ecological communities in BC. From here connect to all provincial and federal recovery plans (including the SARA Registry), COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada), Identified Wildlife guidance and conservation requirements for specific species and ecological communities of conservation concern impacted by forestry activities) and links to E-Flora and E-Fauna (the Electronic Atlas of the Plants and Wildlife of British Columbia).
A joint venture resource providing comprehensive information on a range of species and ecological communities specific to the Coast Region of BC (including the South, Central and North Coast, Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii).
Environmental guidelines for urban and rural land development in BC.
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